by RickW
(Mesa, AZ)
I got interested in UL fishing years ago. I started out with Wally World specials as it fit my budget at the time. As time went on I gradually increased my collection of UL spinning setups and started buying better gear. I got into the higher end of USDM spinning rods and reels and acquired several different outfits. I still have all of them including the Wally World special (Quantum XtraLite rod with Zebco Platinum Underspin reel) I started out with.
I continued looking for more updated information on UL spin fishing and the information is hard to come by. There aren't any publications, i.e., books, magazines, etc., that cater to UL and Finesse fishing. I have Joe Robinson's book "Piscatorial Absurdities" and that really peaked my interest in extreme ultralight spin fishing. Then I came across Chris's site here a while ago and started reading his information on the JDM style of UL fishing. Which renewed my interest further to the point that I purchased several JDM spinning rods, reels, line as well as various types of lures. Thanks Chris!
I live in Arizona and the trout fishing here is mostly stocker trout in the mountain lakes, rivers and streams. The desert lakes cater more to the LMB and catfish folks. However they do have a good population of bluegills, yellow perch, and some walleye. I enjoy going for bluegill and when it gets really hot, I head to the mountains to fish for trout.
Getting ready to retire in a couple of weeks and look forward to having a lot more time to go fishing. Especially with my new JDM gear. I am listing what I currently have here in hopes that the more experienced SUL JDM fishing experts can point me in the right direction. I want to make sure I have the right reels on the rods I currently have and that I'm using the correct line weights. I will be fishing with UL jigheads with plastics and small homemade inline spinners. I have some spoons but I have never (and I mean never) fished with them before. I also fish with mealworms on small #12 scud hooks and BB sized shot. If someone could provide some guidance with my setups I would greatly appreciate it.
Custom Built TFO 1 Weight Fly/Spin Rod 4pc / Shimano Soare CI4+ 500s/ 3# Sunline Area Meister
Daiwa Native Stream / 50TUL (Telescoping)/ Daiwa Iprimi 2004 / 4# Varivas Bush Trail
Shimano Soare / BB S700SULS / Daiwa Iprimi 2004 / 3# Sunline Area Meister
Shimano Trout One / NS S53SUL / Daiwa Luvias 2506H / 4# Sunline Troutist Wild
Tenryu Lunakia / LK6102S-MLT / Shimano Cardiff CI4+ 1000SHG / 4# Sunline Troutist Wild
Tenryu Rayz / Spectra RZS51LL / Shimano Cardiff CI4+ 1000SHG / 4# Varivas Bush Trail
I plan on pulling some of my older USDM gear out occasionally just to compare them with the newer JDM stuff. Looking forward to giving them a good workout.
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Header photo: Tenryu Rayz RZ4102B-UL, Shimano Calcutta Conquest BFS-HG ('17)
The hooks are sharp.
The coffee's hot.
The fish are slippery when wet.
Seriously, all the hooks sold on Finesse-Fishing.com, whether packaged as loose hooks or attached to lures, are dangerously sharp. Some have barbs, which make removal from skin, eyes or clothing difficult. Wear eye protection. Wear a broad-brimmed hat. If you fish with or around children, bend down all hook barbs and make sure the children wear eye protection and broad-brimmed hats. Be aware of your back cast so no one gets hooked.
Also, all the rods sold on Finesse-Fishing.com will conduct electricity. Do not, under any circumstances, fish during a thunder storm. Consider any fishing rod to be a lightning rod! Fishing rods can and do get hit by lightning!
Whatever you do, do it with finesse!